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Last summer, FWRI bear researchers conducted a survey of bears throughout the Big Bend Bear Management Unit (BMU). The last Big Bend BMU survey in 2010 showed these bears were the most genetically isolated and had the smallest estimated abundance of Florida’s seven bear subpopulations. Since then, sightings of bears in the Big Bend BMU have expanded from the Chassahowitzka region to nearby Goethe State Forest and Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.
Researchers use hair snag corrals to estimate bear abundance and genetic diversity. The corrals are formed with two separated strands of barbed wire strung around three or four trees to create an enclosed area. Bears are lured into the corral with bait (doughnuts) and scent; as they pass through the barbed wire, hair and genetic material is left behind on the barbed wire. During the 10-week survey in Big Bend BMU, hairs were collected each week and fence barbs burned to remove residual DNA in preparation for new samples to be collected. The hair samples are now being genotyped to identify the individual, sex, and subpopulation of origin of each sample. Statistical analyses of the samples will reveal the abundance and genetic diversity of bears in the Big Bend BMU.

For more on previous Florida black bear abundance studies: https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/t...